Collapsible crate



Oct. 19 1926.

C. FLAGSTAD ET AL COLLAPSIBLE CRATE t 4 Sheets-Sheet l /q a/ (62; 57

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c. FLAGSTAD ET AL COLLAPSIBLEZ CRATE 1,603,759 C. FLAGSTAD ET AL I COLLAFSIBLE CRATE Filed March 3, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Miam o Taf,

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narran estaras CORNELL FLAGSTAD AND OSCAR A. FLAGSTAD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Application filed March 3, 1925. Serial No. 12,974.

This invention relates to folding or collapsible crates and the main object is to provide a simple, practical and efficient crate in which side and end sections are hingedlj,7 secured to a hollow )ase so as to be foldable thcreinto, and in which a cover section has means whereby it may be detachably secured either to the vertical sections when the crate is set up, or to the base section when the crate is collapsed so as to loclr all the parts in a closely nested condition. A further object is te provide a collapsible crate which is particularly adapted for use in shipping automobile radiators of the Ford type, although itl will be understood that it may be also used for other purposes, if so desire-d. Further and more specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the crate, as set up.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the crate shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the crate.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the base corner irons.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section on the line 5 5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view, similar' to Figure 5, but showing the cover bolt in an unlocked position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail section on the line 7 7 in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 in Figure 7.

Figure 9 .is a section on the line 9 9 in Figure 7, with a slight modification.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the interior of one of the base corners.

Figure 11 is a detail view, partly in section, showing one of the radiator spacing and bracing devices.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail section on the line 12 12 in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a View similar to Figure 12, but showing a different construction of bracing iron.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing a modification of the device il-i lustrated in Figure 18.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a cross member used as a spacing device, as will hereinafter be described.

Referring to the drawings more specilically and by reference characters A designates a base having a bottom 16 and an upstanding rim 17 18 19 20. Side sections B and C and end sections D and E are hingedly secured to the inner side of the rim 17 2O so as to be foldable thereinto, when the crate is collapsed, and a detachable cover section F is so constructed that it may be secured either to the vertical sections, when the crate is set up, or to the bas-e member, when the crate is collapsed. This construction is shown in a general way in our Patent No. 1,485,978, which issued on March 4, 1924, and also in our copending application Ser. No. 736,535, filed on September 8, 1924, for collapsible crate, but we have now incorporated new features and details of construction which will be fully set out and more particularly described in the appended claims.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10,'and especially to Figure 4 it will be seen that the adjoining ends of the members 17 20, or the corners of the base are reinforced and secured together by members Geref novel construction. Each of these members consists of an angle iron, the main flanges of which are perforated, as at 21, so that they may be secured by nails to the members 17 20. @ne flange 22 (Fig. 4) has an angu-l lar extension 23 which is bent under the base and up against the inner face of the other fiange 24, with which it is secured by common nails. The upper end of the flange 22 has a somewhat similar angular extension 25, which extends over the upper edge ofthe base and then down between the base and the flange 24. The lower end of the eXtension 25 has a perforation 26 which coincides with but is smaller than a corresponding perforation 27 in the flange 24, so that when a nail is driven into the base its head will strike the extension 25 only, and will not touch the flange 24. The object of this is to allow the extension 25 to move slightly upward from the perforation 27 should the wood of the base expand or swell from moisture.

rlhe opposite inner sides of the base are also provided with lockinlr members H (Figs. 2 and 16) by means of i liich the cover F may be locked to the lease when the crate is collapse-d or knocked down. These members H each consist of an inverted substantially U-shaped piece the opposite legs of which are pron vided with perforated flanges 28 by which the member may be secured in place.

The side sections B and C each consists ot horizontal slats 29, 30, and 3l, an inclined slat 32, and vertical slats 33 and 34, the latter ot which are hinged at their loiver ends to the base. "l'lie vertical slats 353-34 are Cut out or preferably divided so as to receive sheet Ametal channel ineinbers 35 having :tlanges 36. Which are secured to the slats, so as to torin pairs ot vertical inwardly disposed channels, for a purpose later to. be described. The upper ends ot the side sections l, C are provided with pocket forming members 3i' (F l, 2, and in` Whichthe cover locliiio' bolts engage. Suchpockets may be incorporated in and formed by the corner locker irons, as shown at 3S in the modification shown in Figure 9.

rllhe end sections D and E each consists of an upper horizontal Slat an inclined Slat 40, andv almost vertical end slats 4l and' 42, the lower ends of which liingedly secured as at 43 to the base members 17-18 The hinge preferably einploj-,ied tor this connection is shown in Figure l0, and one or both ot its bruitsv are preferably provided With pressed out projections, as i l; or 45, wherebyv when the end' section raised to a vertical position there ivill be a yielding tendency to press it slightly inward, and thus keep it in locking engagement with the adjacent side sections.

rlhe upper corner locker irons are someivhat similar to those shoivn in our lfbatent #1,485,973, except for certain improvements thereover, which ivill nov7 be set forth, reference being made especially to Figures l, 2, 3, 7, S, and 9.

'The sidesections l" and Cy provided, at their upper corners, with 'tl-shaped lecleer irons 4G, formed of sheet niet-al, and provided each with af transverse slot 4'? itor the reception of a substantially 'lsliapcd head extension; 48 of; the co-operating lookin,3A member 49 on the adjacent end s Actiou corner.r The slot 4? is provided with couverg ing entrance edges 50 (Figs. 3. and 8) so that it'ivillI receive the neck oi? the T-liead 48- even; though it does not enter or strike the slot strict-ly in the center tliereo;t and the inner end ot the slot 4'?, provided with notches or vertically opposed enlargements 53 tor the neel; portion 5l (which wider than so that when the crate .is up there will be a yielding tendency to keep the lock members 46 and'dllengaged, as there is almost always a slight tendency tor either the end or side section to stig e. .little below the' other. ltl Will alsovbe noted that the T-head 48 is provided at Vits ends .iv' inwardly formed cani portions 5l, which, ivhen in locked positions (see Fig.v i) are just Within or past the cent-cr ot co-operat 'ing cams 55, which are pressed iniiardly from the plate 4G, Withk a result that there Will be a further or additional tendency to retain the corner irons in an incr-lficlied position, until manually release( The cover section F, shown in Figs. l, 2, 8 and particularly Figs. 5 and (i, consists ot.' longitudinal slats 5G, 5T, 58, anc. secured to transverse slats (.30 aud 6l. '.lhe cover lits between the side and cud sections, vfl ai the crate is set up, and thus holds them up iii vertical position, and the cover slats 5o, 57 and 5S) extend beyond the outer traus- 75 verse slats 6l, so as to support itsellt ou the end sections. ',lhe cove is se ilace upon the crate by a pair ot tongues (32, which are projected into members Il?, (or pockets 38) z opposite ...ide oli the cover, by a pair oit inani'nilly retractal'ile bolts (333,' which operate between the slats F9- 60 which in turn are preferably provuled with Wearing p af G4 and 65. The inner end ot each bolt operates hack and -forth in a slot plate GS, secured on the slat (SO. il., s instal latch nieniber (S9Y is liingei'l to the plate (itl, and is norn'ially held down by a spring 70. fr portion 7l et the plate (Si) is bent back (see Figs. andv (3) and is provided with a linger hole 72, whereby the member 69 may be lifted so that the bolt {if} may be retracted and released roin the side section. rllie member (39 is also provided. directly7 belov7 the belet-2, Witha pressed down concave 73, which, in addition to i 'oviding room for the operator-s linger also serves to hold the member 69 up and the bolt retracted, when 'the latter has been pulled bach, as in Fig. 6. Thus, also, by a glance at the positionv of the. finger ineinber 69 the operator is able to read'ly determine Whether or not the crate is loclied or unlocked. l/Tilhen locked (as in Fig. 5) the end ot the finger piece is in direct and locking position against the bolt extension 6G.

As previously stated the crate may be used for any purpose desiree. fis shoivn in the present instance, however, it is used 'for housing or i'nclosing tour automobile radiators,and the radiators illustrated are oi' the Ford type, being' designated as 74, 75 To, and Y? in Figs. l, 2, ll, l2 and 13. The radiators 74 and 75 are ot the partly linislied or completed torni. having laterally projecting flanges T8, whi le the radiators TG and .77 are con'ipleted, having, in addition to the lianges 78, a pair ot shield Vllangcs 7S),

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lwhich entend parallel and adjacent to the llanges 7S.A Both types ot radiators are shown as they are both frequently sent in the saine crate.

ln packing the crate the side and end sectionsare tiret set up, the cover being-` lett oli'. The lirst radiator, r[4l-is placed, face down, upon the base, its flanges 7S extending into tivo opposite of the channels 35. A spacing' bar 8O then placed transversely across the Vt" radiator, its ends litting` in the said channels, and serves as a support Jfor one end oit the radiator 75. Near or at the ends ott the bar 8O are secured a pair of substantially W- shaped bracing irons 81, which fit snugly in the channels 35 and are so arranged that their central notches or recesses will straddle the flanges 7 8 and thus brace the entire radiator hrmly in the crate. Adjacent to the members 8l the bar 8O is provided with notches 82 for the purpose ot giving clearance to the water overtlow pipe S3 (see F 11) which lies adjacent to and 'forms a part ot the standard Ford radiator. rllhe mcmber S1 at one end ot the bar SO has its lower outer corner cut away, as at the right in Fig. 11, so that when the bar is to be put in place or removed that end may be raised without binding ,in the channel member 35. And at the other or lett end, the bar projects slightly beyond the brace, as in Figs. 11 and 14, and has its upper corner cut away, as shown, for the same reason.

After the bar is secured in place a similar bar S5 (sce Fig. 2) is secured in a reversed position in the other channels 35 so that it will, with the bar 80, space and support the second radiator 75, and so that its members 81 will receive the 'flanges 78 ot that radiator and brace it in the saine manner as the radiator 7l is braced, said radiator 75 being reversed so as to tace npwardly.

The third radiator 7G is now ready to be inserted and braced, tace down, but betere this is done, a cross spacing member such as 86 (see Figs. 1 and 15) is placed upon the radiator 75 to prevent the two radiators 75 and 76 trom meeting and bruising each other.

The third and fourth radiators are new ready to be packed and as here shown, are ot the types having the shields 79 which extend with the flanges 78 into the opposite channels Spacing bars such as 87 and 88 are interposed between these radiators, but as the flanges 7 9 do not permit the use ot members 81, we provide a bracing member construction such as shown in Figs. 2, 13, and 11i. 1n Fig. 2, for instance, the member 89 projects with a tapered end 90 down between the flange 78 and the channel, while a shoulder' 91 is formed in the member to rest upon the upper edge ot the iiange. ln the modilication shown in Fi 1-/l the member 92 is quite similar to S9 except that it is further provided with a punched out abutment 03 which serves to stop against the outer edge ot the radiator and prevent it vtrom moving` laterally between the sides of the crate.

lt is understood that various modifications may be made in the general design and structural details of the invention as herein illustrated, and described, providing, however, that such modifications come within the spirit and scope et the appended claims.

Having now, therefore, fully shown and described our invention what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A collapsible crate for radiators and the like, comprising a base, collapsible side and end sections and a removable cover, said side sections having oppositely disposed vertically arranged channels adapted to slidably receive parts ot the radiators, spacing` members interposed between said radiators, and means at the ends olf the members for engaging said radiator parts and rigidly securing them in the channels. y

2. A crate tor radiators and the like, opposite sides oit the crate having inwardly disposed vertical channels, a spacing bar for each radiator, the same having its ends extending into opposite ot the channels, and means at the ends of said bar Yfor engaging opposite sides ot the radiator to brace the same rigidly within the crate.

3. A crate `for radiators and the like, opposite sides ot the crate having inwardly disposed pairs ot' vertical channels, one pair nea-r eachend ot thecrate, a pair oi" spacing bars arranged between each pair ot radiators and each extending with its ends into one pair ot' said. channels.

t. A crate tor radiators and the like, opposite sides of the crate having inwardly disposed pairs ot vertical channels, one pair near each end ot the crate, a pair ot spacing bars arranged between each pair ot radiators and each extending with its ends into one pair ot said channels, and means on said bars 'for engaging said radiators to rigidly brace them within the crate.

5. A crate for radiators and the like, opposite sides ot the crate having inwardly disposed pairs ot vertical channels, one pair near each end ot the crate, a pair ot spacing bars arranged between each pair ott radiators and each extending with its ends into one pair ot said channels, and means on said bars tor engaging said radiators to rigidly brace them within the crate, the means on one bar engaging one radiator and the means on the other' bar engaging the other radiator.

6. A crate for radiators and the like, opposite sides ot the crate having inwardly disposed vertical channels, a spacing bar .tor each radiator, the same having its ends extending into opposite ot said channels, and means at the ends ot said bar tor engaging opposite sides et the radiator to brace the same rigidly within the crate said means consisting of brackets adapted to be slidably received in said channels.

7. A crate for radiators and the like, op-

posite sides of the crate having inwardly disposed vertical channels, a spacing bar tor tending into,` opposite ot saidl channels, andv means at the ends of saidi bar for engaging opposite .sidesoi the radiator to brace the saine rigidly Within the crate, said' nieanseon-` sisting of angularly projecting brackets having tapered portions ari-anged-i to be interposed between a part of the channel and' a part of the radiator.

S. A crate for radiators and the like, opposite sidesy of the crate having inwardly disposed vertical channels7 a spacingv bar Jr'or eaclrradiator,V the saine having its ends eX- tendine` into` opposite et said channels, and ineans at the ends of .said bar for engaging opposite sidesf et the radiator to brace the saine rig-idly Within the crate, eachof said spacing hars haring; a notch therein, as and torthe purpose set forth.

9". The con'ihination with opposite inwardly disposed channels adapted tov receive thing-esci radiators and-thelike a crate having placed' in the errate7 of bars arranged between such radiators or the like to space the saine and' extending with their ends into said channels, of brackets at the' ends of said bars? said brackets each having a tapered extension adapted to project between the channel and Said flange. n

I0. A shipping box having` foldahlc sides providedV with vertical guideways arranged to guide and hold projecting` lugs of devices arranged to he placedhetween radiators and the like with their ends guided and held by said guideways, seid spacing;` bars near their ends having projecting Wedge lugs engageahle with the projecting lugs ol said radiators or the like to crowd the saine against opposite sides ot respective gnideways.

In `testimony whereof We a'iiX our signatures.

CORNELL FLAGSTAD. OSCAR A. FLAGSTALD.

such as radiators, and spacing harsy 

